The Dems are responsible for several major mistakes, tone deaf to the populace but not until Obama was elected did I realize how racist, sexist and misogynistic a large percentage of the country stands. Maybe Harris had a chance if given more time. Maybe if there was an actual primary the winner would have defeated the guy who kept top secret docs in his bathroom.
We really haven’t come too far since the civil war or the civil rights movement. Sometimes we get a teddy or franklin Roosevelt, but only after a catastrophic event.
Bravo to King for his support. You truly deserve it, and I'm probably going to get called out one of these days for shamelessly dropping for you on other Substacks.
True story which I may have related here before. If so, apologies.
I began writing my first novel and enthusiastically enrolled in a day long mini workshop hosted by the author who first inspired me to write. I told my sister that he was holding it in his own writing workshop at his home, and it would include breakfast and lunch.
When I returned my sister was nearly gushing: does he live in a mansion!? Did he have servants? (Tom, I can just hear your response!!)
I told her that he lived in a modest home, much like mine, and that his wife who cooked both meals probably wouldn't appreciate being referred to as the staff!
If people would just THINK about this for a moment, they'd realize that most authors cannot support themselves by their book royalties alone! They need to teach, write articles, appear at bookclubs or fairs, run workshops or appear at conferences. And yes, write Substacks as well.
I don't have data, but I would bet for every King there are about 1000 authors out there trying to make a living by their writing--and way more who are also working a second or third job.
I know that I can't support every Substack I read, but for the ones that are the daily must read, I do support them. Your point of pennies a day is so true, especially considering the price of a printed newspaper these days.
I hope that those who can financially support you do so.
Thank you, Miselle. You have given the best description of "the writer's life" I've read. Between TAFM and my books, I keep the roof repaired and the lights on. But I woudn't change a thing. I'm (just) able to do the one thing I love more than anything. Steve would be the first to say he is still amazed at his success.
The price of an annual digital subscription to newspapers is far greater than any of the substack writers I've subscribed to on an annual basis. Admittedly, subscribing to a number of substack writers can add up substantially but the returns on information and data far far outweigh what one gets from a national newspaper be it print or digital.
Trump Administration Transfers 1.4 Million Acres of Public Land to Alaska
Fifty years of protections erased in seventy-five days — and 1.4 million acres of pristine wilderness handed to a state that has promised to industrialize it.
There's something toxic in the soil and water of the American South. I'm the oldest of eight kids, and our politics split 4/4, with three of the four magas living in Florida and North Carolina, and the fourth living in Canada. The other four of us continue to scratch our heads because none of the others were so cultish until they went South.
The blue states need to do equal purging as fast as they can, and if the Dems ever get the power, they have to push for one-man/one-vote/popular majority wins. Dump the Electoral college as a relic of the past, a gimmick to appease the slaveholders.
Finally, are the Dems making any effort to find a 2028 POTUS candidate who "inspires". Somebody's got to do some hardnosed recruiting. Newsom is good but has too many powerful enemies. Pritzker is looking better and better over time. I'm sticking with my crackpot notion of Kelly/Clooney. I think George could be talked into it, and Kelly appears to already be laying the groundwork for a run.
I disagree about Democrats doing "equal purging" but we need to use absolutely every other legitimate avenue to counterbalance and push back.
As for the Electoral College... because it's in the Constitution, it can't be dumped without amending the Constitution, a painfully long and unlikely to succeed process. What is needed is for everyone in a state where the legislature hasn't yet voted to join the National Popular Vote Compact. If enough states join to total or exceed 270 electoral votes, presidential candidates would be elected by actual votes cast nationally for each candidate instead of depending on electoral votes at the Electoral College wherein a couple of presidents have been confirmed as elected despite the total of nationally cast votes for a different candidate due only to "swing states". https://www.nationalpopularvote.com/state-status
I know eliminating the Electoral College would be a major slog, but Dems should initiate it, especially now that we see how easily our "institutions" can be corrupted. I signed onto the National Popular Vote Compact ballot initiative in MI, a swing state.
Here's an idea. If a billionaire bought every white persons land in one small state and resold ,to people of color, redistricting would be futile. Someone could do research into what state or portion thereof some artist, actor, musician, athlete could simply buy and free. I can't wait to see some tech wonk work it up.
This week has indeed been a particularly hard one for We the People. I have long thought that it is gonna get worse before it gets better.I stand in solidarity with my black and brown brothers and sisters in fighting this newest voting rights lynching that the South is trying to push through. What's next? Maybe they will now come for women's suffrage? We have to vote in such ginormous numbers that there can be no doubt who won. smh
The Dems are responsible for several major mistakes, tone deaf to the populace but not until Obama was elected did I realize how racist, sexist and misogynistic a large percentage of the country stands. Maybe Harris had a chance if given more time. Maybe if there was an actual primary the winner would have defeated the guy who kept top secret docs in his bathroom.
We really haven’t come too far since the civil war or the civil rights movement. Sometimes we get a teddy or franklin Roosevelt, but only after a catastrophic event.
Bravo to King for his support. You truly deserve it, and I'm probably going to get called out one of these days for shamelessly dropping for you on other Substacks.
It's all appreciated, Miselle. Very much.
True story which I may have related here before. If so, apologies.
I began writing my first novel and enthusiastically enrolled in a day long mini workshop hosted by the author who first inspired me to write. I told my sister that he was holding it in his own writing workshop at his home, and it would include breakfast and lunch.
When I returned my sister was nearly gushing: does he live in a mansion!? Did he have servants? (Tom, I can just hear your response!!)
I told her that he lived in a modest home, much like mine, and that his wife who cooked both meals probably wouldn't appreciate being referred to as the staff!
If people would just THINK about this for a moment, they'd realize that most authors cannot support themselves by their book royalties alone! They need to teach, write articles, appear at bookclubs or fairs, run workshops or appear at conferences. And yes, write Substacks as well.
I don't have data, but I would bet for every King there are about 1000 authors out there trying to make a living by their writing--and way more who are also working a second or third job.
I know that I can't support every Substack I read, but for the ones that are the daily must read, I do support them. Your point of pennies a day is so true, especially considering the price of a printed newspaper these days.
I hope that those who can financially support you do so.
Thanks for all you do.
Thank you, Miselle. You have given the best description of "the writer's life" I've read. Between TAFM and my books, I keep the roof repaired and the lights on. But I woudn't change a thing. I'm (just) able to do the one thing I love more than anything. Steve would be the first to say he is still amazed at his success.
The price of an annual digital subscription to newspapers is far greater than any of the substack writers I've subscribed to on an annual basis. Admittedly, subscribing to a number of substack writers can add up substantially but the returns on information and data far far outweigh what one gets from a national newspaper be it print or digital.
Trump Administration Transfers 1.4 Million Acres of Public Land to Alaska
Fifty years of protections erased in seventy-five days — and 1.4 million acres of pristine wilderness handed to a state that has promised to industrialize it.
https://morethanjustparks.substack.com/p/trump-administration-transfers-14?utm_campaign=email-half-post&r=b9ign&utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
Posted this article on my FB feed. Need to add recommendation to read JaKaasa's comment if someone wants to register objections.
There's something toxic in the soil and water of the American South. I'm the oldest of eight kids, and our politics split 4/4, with three of the four magas living in Florida and North Carolina, and the fourth living in Canada. The other four of us continue to scratch our heads because none of the others were so cultish until they went South.
The blue states need to do equal purging as fast as they can, and if the Dems ever get the power, they have to push for one-man/one-vote/popular majority wins. Dump the Electoral college as a relic of the past, a gimmick to appease the slaveholders.
Finally, are the Dems making any effort to find a 2028 POTUS candidate who "inspires". Somebody's got to do some hardnosed recruiting. Newsom is good but has too many powerful enemies. Pritzker is looking better and better over time. I'm sticking with my crackpot notion of Kelly/Clooney. I think George could be talked into it, and Kelly appears to already be laying the groundwork for a run.
I disagree about Democrats doing "equal purging" but we need to use absolutely every other legitimate avenue to counterbalance and push back.
As for the Electoral College... because it's in the Constitution, it can't be dumped without amending the Constitution, a painfully long and unlikely to succeed process. What is needed is for everyone in a state where the legislature hasn't yet voted to join the National Popular Vote Compact. If enough states join to total or exceed 270 electoral votes, presidential candidates would be elected by actual votes cast nationally for each candidate instead of depending on electoral votes at the Electoral College wherein a couple of presidents have been confirmed as elected despite the total of nationally cast votes for a different candidate due only to "swing states". https://www.nationalpopularvote.com/state-status
I know eliminating the Electoral College would be a major slog, but Dems should initiate it, especially now that we see how easily our "institutions" can be corrupted. I signed onto the National Popular Vote Compact ballot initiative in MI, a swing state.
True, we were born for whatever is going on in our lives.
Here's an idea. If a billionaire bought every white persons land in one small state and resold ,to people of color, redistricting would be futile. Someone could do research into what state or portion thereof some artist, actor, musician, athlete could simply buy and free. I can't wait to see some tech wonk work it up.
This week has indeed been a particularly hard one for We the People. I have long thought that it is gonna get worse before it gets better.I stand in solidarity with my black and brown brothers and sisters in fighting this newest voting rights lynching that the South is trying to push through. What's next? Maybe they will now come for women's suffrage? We have to vote in such ginormous numbers that there can be no doubt who won. smh